Portage school board sets timeline for filling vacancy created by death of trustee Tom Eddy; family recalls his dedication, service to community

PORTAGE, MI – A somber Portage Public Schools Board of Education paid tribute to their late colleague, trustee Tom Eddy, Monday night and set the timetable for finding his replacement.

Portage school board Secretary Tom Eddy.File photo

Calling the unexpected passing Saturday of Eddy “a very sad day,” board members offered high praise and emotional thoughts about Eddy, who had been on the board since 2011 after serving from 1996 to 2008, including terms as president and vice president.

“This is very hard,” said a sad trustee Rusty Rathburn, who called Eddy an “unselfish community leader” who served with “integrity and dedication. Tom loved the kids of Portage Public Schools.”

Eddy, 66, is survived by his wife, Carol, and sons Robert and Tyler. Carol Eddy recalled Monday night how she and her husband of 44 years came to Portage in 1981 when he was in industrial sales and a career move brought him here.

“His first job (out of college at Ferris State) was as a parochial teacher,” Carol Eddy said. “He was the only Protestant in a Catholic middle school. He absolutely adored teaching, but in a parochial school the salary is next to nothing. Rob, our first child, was on the way so we realized we needed something that would support the family.”

In his early community volunteering, Eddy was involved in South Portage Little League and was recognized with a lifetime achievement award for his involvement with the Southwest Michigan High School Hockey League, primarily as an announcer at the high school hockey games.

His family and school board members said Eddy had a passion for serving the community. In his most recent term on the board, Eddy was the board secretary. He was also past chairman of the Portage schools District Advisory Council and an active member of the Portage Rotary Club, serving on its scholarship committee.

In recent years, Carol Eddy said, he was a substitute teacher primarily in Kalamazoo County schools. He loved the work, she said. He also enjoyed working with developmentally disabled students.

“He just loved teaching, he loved students and young people and he adored his family,” Carol Eddy said. “He would have been a great teacher.”

Rob Eddy said the family has been “blown away” by the amount of support and kind words they have received after Eddy’s death Saturday. In a way, he added, he is not surprised.

“My dad cared very deeply about everyone he came in contact with,” Rob Eddy said.

Board president Bo Snyder praised Eddy for his decades of service to the district and community.

“This school district and this community is a better place for what he did," Snyder said.

Trustee Ted Hartridge said he first met Eddy in 1999 when Hartridge was originally appointed to the school board. A year later, he said, Eddy was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which he successful battled. In 2008, Hartridge also was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He recalled how he and Eddy ran together in 2011, were elected back to the board and often shared stories of their health battles.

“Life is so fragile,” Hartridge said. “Tom was someone who appreciated life.”

Board Vice President Randy Van Antwerp called Eddy “the No. 1 cheerleader for kids and Portage Public Schools. No one loved Portage Public Schools more than Tom and he was a big reason why this district is held in high regard. He was a good man and he will be missed.”

Superintendent Mark Bielang said he was just getting to know Eddy, having been the school’s chief since July, but Eddy had sponsored him for the Portage Rotary Club and they shared many discussions at those meetings.

“There was always a glimmer in his eye and an upbeat voice when he talked about the kids in the district,” Bielang said.

The board agreed on a timeline for finding Eddy’s replacement, a schedule that is challenged by the holidays and board members being out of town on vacation.

Applications for the vacancy will be taken beginning Tuesday and running through noon Dec. 23. The application forms will be online at the Portage schools website, www.portageps.org, or can be picked up at the district’s Administration Building.

The board will meet sometime on Dec. 30 to review the applications, possibly narrow them down. They will do interviews and select a person to fill the vacancy at a special meeting Jan. 6. That date is important because school board bylaws specify filling a vacancy within 30 days of a candidate’s death or resignation.

Even though Eddy’s term expires in 2016, the vacancy will only be filled until the next election, November 2014, at which time the seat will be on the ballot for the remainder of the term.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Life Story Funeral Homes - Rupert, Durham, Marshall & Gren in Portage. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, 5975 Lovers Lane, and services are 11 a.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo, 321 W. South St., Kalamazoo. Carol Eddy said the family will meet with visitors at the church beginning at 10 a.m.

He is survived by Carol; his sons Robert (Laura) Eddy, and Tyler Eddy; granddaughters, Kyra, Ella, and Avery; twin sister, Marilyn (Ken) Rowe; and several nieces and nephews. A native of Grosse Pointe, Eddy was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Ray Eddy.

Memorial donations may be made to the Portage Education Foundation, Portage Rotary Charities or Portage District Library.